Fuel cell tank and fuel cell module

Abstract

To miniaturize a fuel battery module.SOLUTION: A tank for a fuel battery, according to an embodiment, is a tank for a fuel battery that collects and accumulates a liquid exhausted from a plurality of fuel batteries. The tank for the fuel battery comprises: a plurality of inflow parts into which the liquid and an air, discharged from the corresponded fuel battery enter into; a header chamber in which the liquid and the air entered from each of the inflow parts flows; and an air discharge part that discharges the air flown in the header chamber. Also, the tank for the fuel battery, comprises: an accumulation chamber that collects and accumulates the liquid flown in the header chamber; and a separation plate provided between the header chamber and the accumulation chamber. The separation plate includes a communication hole communicated with the header chamber and the accumulation chamber, and the liquid flowing in the header chamber is conducted to the accumulation chamber via the communication hole.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a fuel cell tank and a fuel cell module. [Background technology]

[0002] Fuel cell modules including multiple fuel cells and a fuel cell tank are known. The fuel cells convert the chemical energy of the fuel gas, such as hydrogen, into electrical energy by electrochemically reacting the fuel gas with an oxidant gas, such as air. This reaction between the fuel gas and the oxidant gas produces condensed water. The fuel cell tank collects and stores liquids, such as condensed water, discharged from each fuel cell.

[0003] In general, condensed water generated in multiple fuel cells is discharged from each fuel cell together with the oxidant gas that has flowed through the oxidant gas flow path. The condensed water and oxidant gas discharged from each fuel cell are collected in a header pipe and flow through the header pipe. The condensed water flowing through the header pipe then flows from the header pipe into the fuel cell tank. In this way, the condensed water discharged from each fuel cell is collected and stored in the fuel cell tank.

[0004] However, in such a configuration, the header pipes arranged between each fuel cell and the fuel cell tank may increase the size of the fuel cell module, requiring a large installation space. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2020-135996 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and has as its object to provide a fuel cell tank and a fuel cell module that can reduce the size of the fuel cell module. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] A fuel cell tank according to an embodiment is a fuel cell tank that collects and stores liquid discharged from multiple fuel cells. The fuel cell tank includes multiple inlet ports into which liquid and gas discharged from corresponding fuel cells flow, header chambers through which the liquid and gas flowing in from each inlet port flow, and a gas discharge port that discharges gas that has flowed through the header chamber. The fuel cell tank also includes a storage chamber that collects and stores the liquid that has flowed through the header chamber, and a partition plate provided between the header chamber and the storage chamber. The partition plate has a communication hole that connects the header chamber and the storage chamber, and the liquid flowing through the header chamber is guided to the storage chamber through the communication hole.

[0008] Moreover, the fuel cell module according to the embodiment includes a plurality of fuel cells and the fuel cell tank described above, which collects and stores the liquid discharged from each of the fuel cells. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present invention, the fuel cell module can be made smaller. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fuel cell module according to an embodiment with its exterior removed. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a side view of the fuel cell module shown in FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the fuel cell module shown in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the fuel cell tank shown in FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the fuel cell tank shown in FIG. 4, viewed from a different angle. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a side cross-sectional view of the fuel cell tank shown in FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a front cross-sectional view of the fuel cell tank shown in FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a plan view of the partition plate shown in FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a modification of FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the function and effect of the partition plate shown in FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining the function and effect of the protrusion shown in FIG. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining the effect of the width dimension of the header chamber shown in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A fuel cell tank and a fuel cell module according to an embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings.

[0012] First, a fuel cell module according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 3. The fuel cell module according to this embodiment can be applied to mobile objects such as automobiles, railroad cars, aircraft, and ships. However, the application is not limited to this, and the fuel cell module can be applied to various fields. For example, the fuel cell module can be applied to stationary applications such as factories, hospitals, commercial facilities, and homes.

[0013] 1 to 3, the fuel cell module 1 includes a plurality of fuel cells 10 and a fuel cell tank 40. In the illustrated example, the fuel cell module 1 includes six fuel cells 10 and one fuel cell tank 40.

[0014] 1 and 2, the fuel cell module 1 may include a housing 2. The housing 2 houses each of the fuel cells 10 and a fuel cell tank 40. The housing 2 may house pipes L1 to L10, which will be described later, and the like. Some of the pipes L1 to L10 may extend from the housing 2. The housing 2 may include a frame 3 and an exterior (not shown).

[0015] 1 and 2, each fuel cell 10 may be supported by a support (not shown) so as to be positioned at an upper position in the height direction (vertical direction, Z direction described later) within the housing 2. In the illustrated example, six fuel cells 10 are arranged within the housing 2, with three fuel cells 10 lined up in the longitudinal direction (Y direction described later) and two rows of three fuel cells 10 lined up in the lateral direction (X direction described later) at the upper position in the height direction. In FIG. 1, the three fuel cells 10 arranged on the front side of the paper are indicated by dashed lines.

[0016] 1 and 2, the fuel cell tank 40 may be disposed in the center of a horizontal plane (a plane perpendicular to the vertical direction, a plane parallel to the X and Y directions described below) within the casing 2. In the illustrated example, the fuel cell tank 40 is disposed between three fuel cells 10 disposed on the near side of the paper and three fuel cells 10 disposed on the far side of the paper in the lateral direction, and between a fuel cell 10 disposed on the right side of the paper and a fuel cell 10 disposed on the left side of the paper in the longitudinal direction. The fuel cell tank 40 may also be supported by the bottom 4 of the casing 2 so as to be positioned lower in the height direction within the casing 2. In particular, the fuel cell tank 40 may be disposed lower than the fuel cells 10. As shown in FIG. 2, the fuel cell tank 40 may be disposed between the bottom 4 of the casing 2 and the fuel cells 10.

[0017] The fuel cell 10 is configured to generate power using a fuel gas and an oxidant gas. As shown in Fig. 3, the fuel cell 10 has a fuel gas flow path 12, an oxidant gas flow path 14, and a coolant flow path 16 therein.

[0018] The fuel gas flow path 12 is a path through which fuel gas flows. The fuel gas flow path 12 is connected to a fuel gas supply pipe L1 and a fuel gas discharge pipe L2. The fuel gas is supplied to the fuel gas flow path 12 from a fuel gas supply device (not shown) through the fuel gas supply pipe L1. The fuel gas that has flowed through the fuel gas flow path 12 is discharged from the fuel gas discharge pipe L2. The fuel gas flowing through the fuel gas flow path 12 is supplied to the anode.

[0019] The oxidant gas flow path 14 is a path through which the oxidant gas flows. The oxidant gas flow path 14 is connected to an oxidant gas supply pipe L3 and an oxidant gas discharge pipe L4. The oxidant gas is supplied to the oxidant gas flow path 14 from an oxidant gas supply device (not shown) through the oxidant gas supply pipe L3. The oxidant gas that has flowed through the oxidant gas flow path 14 is discharged from the oxidant gas discharge pipe L4. The oxidant gas flowing through the oxidant gas flow path 14 is supplied to the oxidant electrode.

[0020] The fuel cell 10 generates electricity using a fuel gas supplied to the fuel electrode and an oxidizer gas supplied to the oxidizer electrode. More specifically, the fuel cell 10 generates electricity through the reaction shown in Chemical Formula 1 below. The fuel gas is, for example, a hydrogen-containing gas. The fuel gas flows through the fuel electrode in the fuel gas flow channel 12, causing an anode reaction. The oxidizer gas is, for example, an oxygen-containing gas. The oxidizer gas may be air (atmospheric air). The oxidizer gas flows through the oxidizer electrode in the oxidizer gas flow channel 14, causing an oxidizer electrode reaction. The fuel cell 10 utilizes these electrochemical reactions to extract electrical energy from the electrodes.

[0021] (chemical formula 1) Anode reaction: H2 → 2H + + 2e - Oxidant electrode reaction: 1 / 2O2 + 2H + +2e - → H2O

[0022] As shown in the above chemical formula 1, condensed water (H2O) is produced by the oxidant electrode reaction. The condensed water is discharged together with the oxidant gas from the oxidant gas discharge pipe L4.

[0023] The cooling water flow path 16 is a flow path through which cooling water flows. The cooling water flow path 16 is connected to a cooling water supply pipe L5 and a cooling water discharge pipe L6. The cooling water is supplied to the cooling water flow path 16 from a fuel cell tank 40 (described later) through a cooling water supply header pipe L8 and the cooling water supply pipe L5. The cooling water that has flowed through the cooling water flow path 16 is discharged from the cooling water discharge pipe L6. The cooling water flowing through the cooling water flow path 16 cools the fuel cell 10 that generates heat as it generates power.

[0024] The fuel cell 10 may be a fuel cell stack formed by stacking a plurality of fuel cell unit cells. Each fuel cell unit cell may be formed by stacking a fuel cell, an anode separator, and a cathode separator. The fuel cell may be a membrane electrode assembly in which a fuel electrode and an oxidizer electrode are bonded to both sides of a polymer electrolyte membrane. The anode separator and the cathode separator may each be made of a conductive material. The anode separator may be disposed on the fuel electrode side of the fuel cell. The cathode separator may be disposed on the oxidizer electrode side of the fuel cell. In this case, the fuel gas flow path 12 is provided between the fuel cell and the anode separator. The oxidizer gas flow path 14 is provided between the fuel cell and the cathode separator. The cooling water flow path 16 is provided between the anode separator and the cathode separator.

[0025] The fuel cell tank 40 is configured to collect and store condensed water (liquid) discharged from each of the fuel cells 10. As shown in FIG. 3, the fuel cell tank 40 is connected to each oxidant gas discharge pipe L4. The condensed water (liquid) produced by the oxidant electrode reaction and the oxidant gas (gas) that has flowed through the oxidant gas flow path 14 are supplied to the fuel cell tank 40 through each oxidant gas discharge pipe L4. Although not shown, each oxidant gas discharge pipe L4 may be provided with a supply pump for supplying the condensed water and oxidant gas from the fuel cell 10 to the fuel cell tank 40. The fuel cell tank 40 is also connected to a gas discharge pipe L7. The gas discharge pipe L7 is connected to the outside. The oxidant gas supplied to the fuel cell tank 40 is discharged from this gas discharge pipe L7. Although not shown, the gas discharge pipe L7 may be provided with an exhaust fan for discharging the oxidant gas. On the other hand, the condensed water supplied to the fuel cell tank 40 is stored in the fuel cell tank 40.

[0026] As shown in Fig. 3, the fuel cell tank 40 may be connected to a cooling water supply header pipe L8. The cooling water supply header pipe L8 branches into each cooling water supply pipe L5. Each cooling water supply pipe L5 is connected to the cooling water flow path 16 of the corresponding fuel cell 10. Condensed water stored in the fuel cell tank 40 is discharged from the fuel cell tank 40 and supplied as cooling water to the cooling water flow path 16 of each fuel cell 10 through the cooling water supply header pipe L8 and each cooling water supply pipe L5. Although not shown, a discharge pump for discharging condensed water from the fuel cell tank 40 may be provided in the cooling water supply header pipe L8 or each cooling water supply pipe L5.

[0027] 3, the fuel cell tank 40 may be connected to a cooling water recovery header pipe L9. The cooling water recovery header pipe L9 is connected to each cooling water discharge pipe L6. Each cooling water discharge pipe L6 is connected to the cooling water flow path 16 of the corresponding fuel cell 10. The cooling water that has flowed through the cooling water flow path 16 of each fuel cell 10 is discharged from the corresponding cooling water discharge pipe L6 and supplied to the fuel cell tank 40 through the cooling water recovery header pipe L9. Although not shown, a supply pump for supplying cooling water from the fuel cell 10 to the fuel cell tank 40 may be provided in the cooling water recovery header pipe L9 or each cooling water discharge pipe L6. The cooling water supplied to the fuel cell tank 40 is stored in the fuel cell tank 40 together with condensed water.

[0028] 3, the fuel cell tank 40 may be connected to a circulation line L10. The circulation line L10 is configured to circulate and flow condensed water in the fuel cell tank 40. The circulation line L10 is provided with a circulation pump P, a heat exchanger 20, and an ion exchanger 30. When the circulation pump P is driven, the condensed water in the fuel cell tank 40 circulates and flows through the circulation line L10. The heat exchanger 20 is configured to exchange heat between the condensed water and a cooling medium to cool the condensed water. The ion exchanger 30 contains an ion exchange resin and is configured to remove impurity ions contained in the condensed water by the ion exchange resin.

[0029] Next, the configuration of the fuel cell tank 40 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0030] As shown in FIGS. 4 to 7, the fuel cell tank 40 may have a substantially rectangular box shape. The fuel cell tank 40 may have a length direction, a width direction, and a height direction. As described above, the fuel cell tank 40 is disposed in the limited space between the bottom 4 of the housing 2 and the fuel cell 10 in the fuel cell module 1. For this reason, the fuel cell tank 40 may have a thin shape in which the height dimension is smaller than the length dimension and the width dimension. In this specification, the width direction of the fuel cell tank 40 is referred to as the X direction (third direction), the length direction is referred to as the Y direction (second direction), and the height direction is referred to as the Z direction (first direction). The X direction, Y direction, and Z direction are perpendicular to each other.

[0031] As shown in FIGS. 4 to 7, the fuel cell tank 40 includes a plurality of inlet portions 41, a header chamber 42, a gas discharge portion 43, a storage chamber 45, and a partition plate 50.

[0032] The inlet portion 41 is configured to receive the condensed water W and oxidant gas G discharged from the fuel cell 10. A plurality of inlet portions 41 are provided so that the condensed water W and oxidant gas G from the corresponding fuel cell 10 flow in. In the illustrated example, six inlet portions 41 are provided corresponding to the six fuel cells 10. Each inlet portion 41 is connected to the oxidant gas discharge pipe L4. The condensed water W and oxidant gas G discharged from the fuel cell 10 flow in from this inlet portion 41 through the oxidant gas discharge pipe L4. Each inlet portion 41 may be provided on one side in the Y direction (the right side in FIG. 6 ) of a header chamber 42 described below. In the illustrated example, each inlet portion 41 has a cylindrical shape, and three inlet portions 41 extend from one side surface of the header chamber 42 in the X direction (the front side in FIG. 6 ), and the other three inlet portions 41 extend from the other side surface of the header chamber 42 in the X direction (the back side in FIG. 6 ).

[0033] The header chamber 42 is configured so that the condensed water W and the oxidant gas G flowing in from each of the inflow portions 41 flow therethrough. The header chamber 42 is provided in the fuel cell tank 40. The header chamber 42 may have a substantially rectangular parallelepiped outer shape with its longitudinal direction in the Y direction. The header chamber 42 is disposed adjacent to a storage chamber 45 (described later) in the Z direction. The header chamber 42 may be disposed on one side of the storage chamber 45 in the Z direction (upper side in FIG. 6). As shown in FIG. 7, the header chamber 42 may be adjacent to the storage chamber 45 in the Z direction at the center of the storage chamber 45 in the X direction. As shown in FIG. 7, the width w1 of the header chamber 42 may be less than half the width w2 of a first chamber 46 of the storage chamber 45 (described later). Here, the width refers to the length in the X direction. As described above, each inflow portion 41 is provided on one side of the header chamber 42 in the Y direction (right side in FIG. 6). Therefore, the condensed water W and the oxidant gas G that flow in from each inlet portion 41 flow in the header chamber 42 from one side in the Y direction (the right side in FIG. 6) to the other side in the Y direction (the left side in FIG. 6). As shown in FIG. 6, the oxidant gas G flowing in the header chamber 42 is guided to a gas discharge portion 43, which will be described later, and the condensed water W flowing in the header chamber 42 is guided to a storage chamber 45, which will be described later, through a communication hole 52, which will be described later.

[0034] The gas discharge unit 43 is configured to discharge the oxidant gas G that has flowed through the header chamber 42. The gas discharge unit 43 is connected to the gas discharge pipe L7. The oxidant gas G that has flowed through the header chamber 42 is discharged from the gas discharge unit 43 through the gas discharge pipe L7 to the outside. The gas discharge unit 43 may be provided on the other side of the header chamber 42 in the Y direction (the left side in FIG. 6). The gas discharge unit 43 may also be provided on one side of the header chamber 42 in the Z direction (the upper side in FIG. 6). For example, the gas discharge unit 43 may be provided on the ceiling surface of the header chamber 42. In the example shown, the gas discharge unit 43 has a cylindrical shape and extends from the ceiling surface of the header chamber 42 to one side in the Z direction (the upper side in FIG. 6).

[0035] The storage chamber 45 is configured to collect and store the condensed water W that has flowed through the header chamber 42. The storage chamber 45 is provided inside the fuel cell tank 40. The storage chamber 45 is arranged so as to be adjacent to the header chamber 42 in the Z direction. The storage chamber 45 may be arranged on the other side of the header chamber 42 in the Z direction (below in FIG. 6). As shown in FIG. 7, the storage chamber 45 may be adjacent to the header chamber 42 in the Z direction at its center in the X direction. The storage chamber 45 is in communication with the header chamber 42 via a communication hole 52 in a partition plate 50, which will be described later.

[0036] The storage chamber 45 may have a first chamber 46 and a second chamber 47. The first chamber 46 is in communication with the header chamber 42. The first chamber 46 may have a rectangular parallelepiped outer shape. The second chamber 47 is in communication with the first chamber 46. The second chamber 47 has a volume smaller than that of the first chamber 46. For example, the second chamber 47 may have a volume equal to or less than one-fourth or one-eighth of that of the first chamber 46. The second chamber 47 may have a rectangular parallelepiped outer shape. The second chamber 47 is provided on the bottom surface of the first chamber 46. That is, the second chamber 47 is disposed on the other side (lower side in FIG. 6 ) of the first chamber 46 in the Z direction. Therefore, the condensed water W that flows into the storage chamber 45 is first stored in the second chamber 47, and after the second chamber 47 is filled with the condensed water W, the condensed water W is stored in the first chamber 46.

[0037] 6 and 7, a protrusion 48 that protrudes inward may be provided around the opening 47o of the second chamber 47. The protrusion 48 narrows the opening 47o of the second chamber 47 from its periphery. The protrusion 48 may be provided on the bottom surface of the first chamber 46, or may be integrated with a member that forms the bottom surface of the first chamber 46.

[0038] Although not shown, an overflow pipe may be connected to the first chamber 46. When a predetermined amount or more of condensed water W is accumulated in the first chamber 46, the condensed water W may be discharged to the outside through the overflow pipe.

[0039] The partition plate 50 is provided inside the fuel cell tank 40. The partition plate 50 is a plate-shaped member that separates the header chamber 42 and the storage chamber 45. The partition plate 50 is provided between the header chamber 42 and the storage chamber 45. In other words, the header chamber 42 and the storage chamber 45 are arranged adjacent to each other with the partition plate 50 interposed therebetween. As shown in FIG. 8, the partition plate 50 may have a rectangular planar shape.

[0040] As shown in FIGS. 6 and 8 , the partition plate 50 has a communication hole 52. The communication hole 52 is a hole that penetrates the partition plate 50. The communication hole 52 communicates between the header chamber 42 and the storage chamber 45. The condensed water W flowing through the header chamber 42 is guided to the storage chamber 45 through the communication hole 52. The communication hole 52 may be provided on the other side of the partition plate 50 in the Y direction (the left side in FIG. 6 ). As shown in FIG. 8 , the communication hole 52 may extend in the X direction. That is, the communication hole 52 may be formed in the shape of a slit extending in the X direction. In the illustrated example, the communication hole 52 extends from one end of the partition plate 50 to the other end in the X direction. Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 8 , a plurality of the communication holes 52 may be arranged at intervals in the Y direction. In the example shown in FIG. 8 , nine communication holes 52 are arranged at intervals in the Y direction.

[0041] The shape and arrangement of the communication holes 52 are not limited to the above example and may be any shape. For example, the communication holes 52 may extend at an angle with respect to the X direction. For example, the communication holes 52 may have any other shape, such as a circular shape or a rectangular shape. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, a plurality of communication holes 52 may be arranged at intervals in the X direction and the Y direction. In the example shown in FIG. 9, the plurality of communication holes 52 are arranged in a lattice pattern. The plurality of communication holes 52 may also be arranged in a staggered pattern. For example, instead of a plurality of communication holes 52, one large communication hole 52 may be provided.

[0042] As shown in FIGS. 4 to 7, the fuel cell tank 40 may further include a liquid recovery section 60a, a liquid discharge section 60b, and circulation connection sections 62a and 62b.

[0043] The liquid recovery unit 60a is configured to recover cooling water supplied from the fuel cell 10. The liquid recovery unit 60a is connected to a cooling water recovery header pipe L9. Therefore, the cooling water discharged from the cooling water discharge pipe L6 of each fuel cell 10 passes through the cooling water recovery header pipe L9 and is supplied from the liquid recovery unit 60a to the fuel cell tank 40. The cooling water supplied to the fuel cell tank 40 is stored as condensed water W in the storage chamber 45 of the fuel cell tank 40. The liquid recovery unit 60a may be provided in the second chamber 47 of the storage chamber 45. In the illustrated example, the liquid recovery unit 60a has a cylindrical shape and extends from the other side surface of the second chamber 47 in the Y direction (the left side in FIG. 6). In the illustrated example, the liquid recovery unit 60a is aligned with the liquid discharge unit 60b in the X direction.

[0044] The liquid discharge unit 60b is configured to discharge condensed water W stored in the storage chamber 45. The liquid discharge unit 60b is connected to the cooling water supply header pipe L8. Therefore, the condensed water W stored in the storage chamber 45 is discharged from the liquid discharge unit 60b and supplied as cooling water to the cooling water flow path 16 of each fuel cell 10 through the cooling water supply header pipe L8 and each cooling water supply pipe L5. The liquid discharge unit 60b may be provided in the second chamber 47 of the storage chamber 45. In the illustrated example, the liquid discharge unit 60b has a cylindrical shape and extends from the other side surface of the second chamber 47 in the Y direction (the left side in FIG. 6). In the illustrated example, the liquid discharge unit 60b is aligned with the liquid recovery unit 60a in the X direction.

[0045] The circulation connectors 62a and 62b are configured to circulate the condensed water W stored in the storage chamber 45 through the circulation line L10. In the illustrated example, two circulation connectors 62a and 62b are provided, with one circulation connector 62a connected to the inlet side of the circulation line L10 and the other circulation connector 62b connected to the outlet side of the circulation line L10. Therefore, the condensed water W stored in the storage chamber 45 is discharged from the circulation connector 62a, flows through the circulation line L10, and is supplied again to the storage chamber 45 from the circulation connector 62b. Because the condensed water W is discharged from the circulation connector 62a, the circulation connector 62a is also referred to as a liquid discharge connector 62a. As shown in FIG. 3, the condensed water W flowing through the circulation line L10 is cooled by the heat exchanger 20 and has impurity ions removed by the ion exchanger 30. Each of the circulation connectors 62a and 62b may be provided in the second chamber 47 of the storage chamber 45. In the illustrated example, each of the circulation connectors 62a, 62b has a cylindrical shape and extends from one side in the Y direction (the right side in FIG. 6) of the second chamber 47. In the illustrated example, the circulation connectors 62a, 62b are aligned in the X direction.

[0046] Next, the operation of this embodiment having such a configuration will be described.

[0047] During operation of the fuel cell module 1, fuel gas is supplied from a fuel gas supply device through a fuel gas supply pipe L1 to the fuel gas flow paths 12 of each fuel cell 10. Furthermore, oxidant gas is supplied from the oxidant gas supply device through an oxidant gas supply pipe L3 to the oxidant gas flow paths 14 of each fuel cell 10. Furthermore, cooling water is supplied from the fuel cell tank 40 to the cooling water flow paths 16 of each fuel cell 10 through a cooling water supply header pipe L8 and a cooling water supply pipe L5.

[0048] Fuel gas flows through the fuel gas flow path 12 of each fuel cell 10 and is supplied to the fuel electrode. Oxidant gas flows through the oxidant gas flow path 14 of each fuel cell 10 and is supplied to the oxidant electrode. As a result, each fuel cell 10 generates electricity by causing a fuel electrode reaction and an oxidant electrode reaction with the fuel gas supplied to the fuel electrode and the oxidant gas supplied to the oxidant electrode. This oxidant electrode reaction produces condensed water. Cooling water flows through the cooling water flow path 16 of each fuel cell 10 and cools the fuel cell 10, which generates heat as it generates electricity.

[0049] The combustion gas that flows through the fuel gas flow path 12 of each fuel cell 10 is discharged from the fuel gas discharge pipe L2. The oxidant gas that flows through the oxidant gas flow path 14 of each fuel cell 10 is discharged from the oxidant gas discharge pipe L4. The cooling water that flows through the cooling water flow path 16 of each fuel cell 10 is discharged from the cooling water discharge pipe L6. In addition, condensed water produced by the oxidant electrode reaction is discharged from the oxidant gas discharge pipe L4.

[0050] The cooling water discharged from each cooling water discharge pipe L6 passes through the cooling water recovery header pipe L9 and is supplied from the liquid recovery section 60a to the fuel cell tank 40. The cooling water supplied to the fuel cell tank 40 is stored as condensed water W in the storage chamber 45 of the fuel cell tank 40.

[0051] In addition, the condensed water W and oxidant gas G discharged from each oxidant gas discharge pipe L4 are supplied to the fuel cell tank 40. The condensed water W and oxidant gas G supplied to the fuel cell tank 40 flow into the fuel cell tank 40 from each inlet portion 41.

[0052] The condensed water W and the oxidizing gas G that flow in from each inlet portion 41 flow through the header chamber 42. In the header chamber 42, the condensed water W and the oxidizing gas G flow from one side in the Y direction (the right side in FIG. 6) to the other side in the Y direction (the left side in FIG. 6).

[0053] The oxidant gas G flowing through the header chamber 42 is led to the gas discharge section 43, and then discharged from the gas discharge section 43 to the outside through the gas discharge pipe L7. On the other hand, the condensed water W flowing through the header chamber 42 is led to the storage chamber 45 through the communication hole 52 of the partition plate 50, and flows into the storage chamber 45.

[0054] The condensed water W that has flowed into the storage chamber 45 is first stored in the second chamber 47. After the second chamber 47 is filled with the condensed water W, the condensed water W is stored in the first chamber .

[0055] The condensed water W stored in the storage chamber 45 flows through the circulation line L10, flowing out from the circulation connection part 62a and flowing back into the storage chamber 45 from the circulation connection part 62b. The condensed water W flowing through the circulation line L10 is cooled by the heat exchanger 20, and impurity ions are removed by the ion exchanger 30.

[0056] The condensed water W stored in the storage chamber 45 is discharged from the liquid discharge portion 60b. The condensed water W discharged from the liquid discharge portion 60b is supplied as cooling water to the cooling water flow path 16 of each fuel cell 10 through the cooling water supply header pipe L8 and each cooling water supply pipe L5.

[0057] According to this embodiment, the fuel cell tank 40 includes a header chamber 42 through which the condensed water W and oxidant gas G flowing in from each of the inflow portions 41, and the condensed water W flowing in the header chamber 42 is guided to the storage chamber 45 through the communication holes 52 of the partition plate 50. In this way, since the fuel cell tank 40 includes the header chamber 42 that functions as a header pipe, it is not necessary to arrange a header pipe between each of the fuel cells 10 and the fuel cell tank 40. This makes it possible to reduce the size of the fuel cell module 1.

[0058] Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, the condensed water W flowing through the header chamber 42 is guided to the storage chamber 45 through the communication holes 52 of the partition plate 50. This makes it possible to prevent the condensed water W from accumulating in the header chamber 42. This prevents the accumulated condensed water W from obstructing the flow of the oxidizing gas G, and allows the condensed water W and the oxidizing gas G to flow smoothly through the header chamber 42. As a result, a decrease in the efficiency of the fuel cell module 1 can be prevented.

[0059] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, a partition plate 50 is provided between the header chamber 42 and the storage chamber 45. This prevents the condensed water W stored in the storage chamber 45 from flowing into the inlet 41 even if the fuel cell module 1 wobbles or tilts. For example, if the fuel cell module 1 is applied to a moving body, the fuel cell module 1 may wobble or tilt due to acceleration / deceleration in the moving direction of the moving body or vertical displacement. If the fuel cell module 1 wobbles or tilts while the condensed water W has accumulated up to the first chamber 46 of the storage chamber 45, the surface of the condensed water W may reach the height of the inlet 41, causing the condensed water W to flow into the inlet 41. In contrast, according to this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10 , for example, the partition plate 50 prevents the surface of the condensed water W from reaching the inlet 41 even if the fuel cell module 1 wobbles or tilts. Therefore, the backflow of the condensed water W can be prevented. As a result, the possibility of breakdown or deterioration of the fuel cell module 1 can be reduced. In particular, when the fuel cell module 1 is applied to a ship, the NK standard (Nippon Kaiji Kyokai standard) requires that it be able to withstand a dynamic tilt of ±7.5 degrees in the fore-and-aft direction (direction of movement). According to this embodiment, it is possible to provide a fuel cell module 1 that meets the requirements of the NK standard.

[0060] Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, the liquid discharge units 60b, 62a are provided in the second chamber 47 of the storage chamber 45. Because the second chamber 47 is provided on the bottom surface of the first chamber 46, the condensed water W that flows into the storage chamber 45 is first stored in the second chamber 47. After the second chamber 47 is filled with the condensed water W, the condensed water W is stored in the first chamber 46. This allows the second chamber 47 to be filled with the condensed water W preferentially even when the amount of condensed water W in the storage chamber 45 is low. This prevents the liquid discharge units 60b, 62a from discharging the condensed water W and instead discharging air. As a result, the possibility of breakdown or deterioration of the fuel cell module 1 can be reduced.

[0061] Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, a protrusion 48 that protrudes inward is provided around the opening 47o of the second chamber 47. This prevents the condensed water W stored in the second chamber 47 from flowing out from the second chamber 47 to the first chamber 46, even if the fuel cell module 1 is swayed or tilted. That is, if the fuel cell module 1 is swayed or tilted while the condensed water W is stored in the second chamber 47 of the storage chamber 45 but not in the first chamber 46, the surface of the condensed water W may reach the height of the first chamber 46, causing the condensed water W to flow out from the second chamber 47 to the first chamber 46. In contrast, according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11 , for example, the protrusion 48 prevents the surface of the condensed water W from reaching the first chamber 46, even if the fuel cell module 1 is swayed or tilted. This prevents the condensed water W from flowing out from the second chamber 47 to the first chamber 46. This further reduces the possibility of air being discharged from the liquid discharge portions 60b, 62a without discharging the condensed water W. As a result, the possibility of breakdown or deterioration of the fuel cell module 1 can be further reduced.

[0062] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the width w1 of the header chamber 42 is less than half the width w2 of the first chamber 46 of the storage chamber 45. This further prevents the condensed water W stored in the storage chamber 45 from flowing into the inlet 41, even if the fuel cell module 1 sways or tilts. For example, as shown in FIG. 12 , if the fuel cell module 1 sways or tilts in the X direction, the condensed water W can be prevented from flowing from the first chamber 46 of the storage chamber 45 into the header chamber 42. This further prevents the condensed water W from flowing back. As a result, the possibility of breakdown or deterioration of the fuel cell module 1 can be further reduced. In particular, when the fuel cell module 1 is applied to a ship, the NK standard (ClassNK standard) requires that the module be able to withstand a dynamic tilt of ±22.5 degrees in the left-right direction (a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement and the vertical direction). According to this embodiment, it is possible to provide a fuel cell module 1 that meets the requirements of the NK standard.

[0063] Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, each of the inflow sections 41 is provided on one side of the header chamber 42 in the Y direction, the gas discharge section 43 is provided on the other side of the header chamber 42 in the Y direction, and the communication hole 52 is provided on the other side of the partition plate 50 in the Y direction. By arranging the communication hole 52 on the opposite side of the inflow section 41 in the Y direction in this manner, even if the fuel cell module 1 is swayed or tilted, the partition plate 50 can effectively prevent the surface of the condensed water W from reaching the inflow section 41. This makes it possible to further prevent the backflow of the condensed water W.

[0064] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the communication holes 52 extend in the X direction and are arranged in a plurality at intervals in the Y direction. This arrangement of the communication holes 52 effectively guides the condensed water W flowing through the header chamber 42 to the storage chamber 45. This effectively prevents the condensed water W from accumulating in the header chamber 42. As a result, a decrease in the efficiency of the fuel cell module 1 can be effectively prevented. Furthermore, even if the fuel cell module 1 is wobbled or tilted, the condensed water W can be effectively prevented from flowing through the communication holes 52 into the header chamber 42. This further prevents the condensed water W from flowing back.

[0065] Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, the communication holes 52 may be arranged in a plurality of rows spaced apart in the X and Y directions. Arranging the communication holes 52 in this manner can prevent the strength of the partition plate 50 from being reduced by the communication holes 52. This makes it easier to attach the partition plate 50 during the manufacturing and assembly of the fuel cell tank 40. Furthermore, communication holes 52 arranged in this manner can be easily formed by drilling holes in the partition plate 50, for example. This makes it easier to manufacture the fuel cell tank 40.

[0066] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the fuel cell tank 40 is disposed between the bottom 4 of the housing 2 and the fuel cell 10. Thus, according to this embodiment, the fuel cell tank 40 can be made compact so that it is thin, particularly in the height direction, and can be disposed in the limited space between the bottom 4 of the housing 2 and the fuel cell 10 in the fuel cell module 1.

[0067] According to the embodiment described above, the fuel cell module can be made smaller.

[0068] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be embodied in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included within the scope and spirit of the invention, and are also included in the inventions and their equivalents as set forth in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0069] 1: fuel cell module, 2: housing, 4: bottom, 10: fuel cell, 40: fuel cell tank, 41: inlet, 42: header chamber, 43: gas discharge section, 45: storage chamber, 46: first chamber, 47: second chamber, 47o: opening, 48: protrusion, 50: partition plate, 52: communication hole, 60b, 62a: liquid discharge section, G: oxidizer gas, W: condensed water

Claims

1. A fuel cell tank that collects and stores liquid discharged from a plurality of fuel cells, a plurality of inlets into which liquids and gases discharged from the corresponding fuel cells flow; a header chamber through which the liquid and gas flowing in from each of the inflow portions; a gas discharge section that discharges gas that has flowed through the header chamber; a reservoir chamber that collects and stores the liquid that has flowed through the header chamber; A partition plate is provided between the header chamber and the storage chamber, The partition plate has a communication hole that communicates the header chamber with the storage chamber, and liquid flowing through the header chamber is guided to the storage chamber through the communication hole.

2. Further provided is a liquid discharge part that discharges the liquid stored in the storage chamber, The storage chamber has a first chamber communicating with the header chamber and a second chamber provided on a bottom surface of the first chamber and having a volume smaller than a volume of the first chamber, 2. The fuel cell tank according to claim 1, wherein the liquid discharge portion is provided in the second chamber.

3. 3. The fuel cell tank according to claim 2, wherein a protrusion that protrudes inward is provided around the opening of said second chamber.

4. 3. The fuel cell tank according to claim 2, wherein the width of the header chamber is equal to or less than half the width of the first chamber of the storage chamber.

5. the header chamber and the storage chamber are arranged adjacent to each other in a first direction, Each of the inflow portions is provided on one side of the header chamber in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the gas discharge portion is provided on the other side of the header chamber in the second direction, 2. The fuel cell tank according to claim 1, wherein the communication hole is provided on the other side of the partition plate in the second direction.

6. 6. The fuel cell tank according to claim 5, wherein the communication holes extend in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction, and a plurality of the communication holes are arranged at intervals in the second direction.

7. 6. The fuel cell tank according to claim 5, wherein a plurality of the communication holes are arranged at intervals in the second direction and in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction.

8. a plurality of fuel cells; 8. A fuel cell module comprising: a fuel cell tank according to claim 1, which collects and stores liquid discharged from each of the fuel cells.

9. a housing that houses each of the fuel cells and the fuel cell tank; 9. The fuel cell module according to claim 8, wherein the fuel cell tank is disposed between the bottom of the housing and the fuel cell.

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